Eliminations for the Pepsi North America Cup are scheduled for Saturday (June 13) and the C$1 million final will take place the following week on Saturday (June 20).

The stakes have been increased for this year’s William Wellwood Memorial, which led to a major spike in nominations. A total of 195 rookie trotters have been made eligible, up from 154 in 2019.

The purse for this year’s Wellwood Memorial has been increased to C$610,000 (est.) and the winner will also receive a slot (valued at $110,000) in the inaugural Mohawk Million. The rich event for 2-year-old trotters will take place on Saturday (Sept. 12), two weeks prior to the Mohawk Million on Saturday (Sept. 26).

The Metro Pace, harness racing’s richest race for 2-year-old pacers, will also take place on Sept. 26. The marquee race for rookies has attracted 191 nominations, the same number as 2019.

Another event that saw a notable increase is the Canadian Pacing Derby. A total of 56 older pacers have been nominated to Canada’s oldest Standardbred stakes race, up from 37 a year ago.

The Maple Leaf Trot received 46 nominations, headlined by international superstar Bold Eagle. The legendary French trotter captured the Breeders Crown last October and could be poised for a return to Woodbine Mohawk Park in 2020.

To view the full lists of eligible horses for all 2020 major stakes, click here.